For part two, the annual review of my favorite songs of the past 20 years. Remember there have been ties for #1 a few years, thus the extra tracks. Also don’t forget that these lists remain static once published. There are several songs I would replace with others if I re-evaluated their years today. Flags fly forever, and favorite songs of the year never die.
2004 – “Float On” – Modest Mouse
2005 – “Gone Missing” – Maximo Park
2006 – “Star Witness” – Neko Case
2007 – “Intervention” – Arcade Fire
2008 – “The Modern Leper” – Frightened Rabbit
2009 – “Whirring” – The Joy Formidable
2010 – “FootShooter” – Frightened Rabbit
2011 – “He Gets Me High” – Dum Dum Girls
2012 – “The House That Heaven Built” – Japandroids
2013 – “Holy” – Frightened Rabbit
2014 – “Red Eyes” – The War On Drugs
2015 – “California Nights” – Best Coast
2016 – “To Know You” – Wild Nothing
2017 – “Pain” / “Strangest Thing” – The War On Drugs
2018 – “Night Shift” – Lucy Dacus
2019 – “Weird Ways” – Strand of Oaks
2020 – “Can’t Do Much” – Waxahatchee
2021 – “Stacking Chairs” – Middle Kids
2022 – “the man himself” / “in the wake of your leave” – Gang of Youths
2023 – “The Window” – Ratboys